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CHAMPAIGN, Illinois (Ticker) -- Brian Cook had 22 points and seven rebounds in his final game at Assembly Hall and 14th-ranked Illinois coasted to an 84-60 win over Minnesota to clinch second place in the Big Ten Conference.

Cook has 1,652 points, one behind Mark Smith for fifth place on the school's all-time list and received a huge ovation when he left the game with 48 seconds remaining.

Roger Powell scored 15 points in 23 minutes off the bench and freshman Dee Brown added 11 and seven assists for Illinois (21-6, 11-5 Big Ten), which won for the fifth time in six games. The Fighting Illini defeated Minnesota for the 10th straight time.

Rick Rickert and Jerry Holman each scored 12 points to lead Minnesota (16-11, 8-8), which suffered its third straight loss.

The Golden Gophers face Northwestern in the first round of the Big Ten tournament, with the winner taking on Illinois.

Illinois has won 17 straight home games, including all 14 this season.

The Illini shot 56.5 percent (13-of-23) in the first half and took a 40-31 lead into the break.

Cook scored six points during a 16-4 run that pushed the Illini's lead to 74-50, when Powell hit a free throw with 4:29 remaining.

Reserve center Nick Smith had a solid game for the Illini, recording nine points, four rebounds and five blocked shots in 25 minutes.

Illinois shot 85 percent (17-of-20) from the free-throw line, while Minnesota was just 8-of-14.

Michael Bauer struggled and made just 1-of-8 shots for five points for Minnesota, which made just 4-of-17 shots from beyond the arc. The Gophers shot 35 percent (24-of-68) overall.

Minnesota likely needs to win the Big Ten tournament to earn a spot in the NCAA Tournament. The Golden Gophers dropped their fourth straight to end the regular season.